Whitmore Lake Golf Links

Prepare yourself for a marshland challenge with today's feature: $18 for 18 Holes with Cart and a Bucket of Range Balls at The Links at Whitmore Lake in Whitmore Lake ($44 Value. Expires November 1, 2012.)

This 6,257-yard Bill Newcomb course covers 254 acres, nearly one-half of which are protected wetlands. And while the front nine is a beautiful uplands course, with tee-to-green bent grass, the back nine is truly unique. Five boardwalks, including one nearly a quarter-mile long, traverse acres of wetlands. The course offers lots of variety, including teeing decks placed in the middle of marshland and nice opportunities to enjoy wildlife.

If you want to score well, you are definitely going to need to be on your game early. The first hole allows you to get off to a healthy start with a par-5, 484-yard birdie opportunity. You better take advantage of it as only one hole on the front nine is free of water. As you near the end of the first nine, you'll start to notice a personality change. In order to cope with the course as it grows more difficult — start straightening out that fade, and quickly, too.

Remember that nice fat landing zone from the first hole? That's all it is — a memory. If you’re spraying the big stick, keep it in the bag or you’ll be playing from the thick stuff for the rest of the round. But if you hit your bombs straight and favor the safe side of the fairway, you’ll soon be in your buddy’s wallet — once again.

You will want to be sure to hit this course soon because you will very likely want to get your revenge soon after. This is one course where a second play is a must. So gather your group and head out to Whitmore Lake for an afternoon of big laughs and big tee shots ... you bought that big 1200cc driver for a reason!